Meet The Chef

Chef
Robin-Lee Abrahams

Hey there.
My name is Robin-Lee Abrahams

I’ve been truly blessed to have honed my craft in prestigious 4-star hotels, restaurants and to have traveled across South Africa, catering for the Rugby Sevens for four consecutive years in Arrow. I had the profound honor of serving distinguished guests in Mthatha during Nelson Mandela’s funeral.

I was fortunate to be trained by Lindsay Venn, Chef Lee, Alec, the Olympic chef Heinrich Grobbelaar, a mentorship that shaped my culinary journey. But let me take you back to how it all began…

I grew up as a wild, imaginative child always sketching, painting, riding my BMX, and dreaming without limits. Life, however, was not always simple. We moved often, faced the loss of homes, and money was scarce. Yet through those challenges, I discovered that hard work, creativity, and the strength of family are inseparable foundations for resilience.

At the age of 16, during a holiday job at the Cullinan Hotel, I uncovered my true passion: cooking. Within just a few days, I felt an undeniable sense of belonging in the kitchen. The artistry of transforming raw ingredients into meals that spark joy became more than a skill it became my calling.

Today, every dish I create is a reflection of my journey, my family’s influence, and my unwavering belief that food holds the power to craft smiles, build connections, and create lasting memories.

When I turned 16, I made a promise to myself: I had to find a way to study, to work hard, and to make something of my life. Every few months, I would take on a job not only to discover what I was truly made for, but also to support my family wherever I could.

That December, I asked my uncle, Mario Abrahams, if he had a holiday job for me. His answer was simple: “Yes, but all you need is a CV, a copy of your ID, and a bank account.” The very next day, I went into town with everything in hand.

He introduced me to HBR, an agency that connects people with opportunities in the hospitality industry. Through them, I began working at the Cullinan Hotel and my life changed.

It only took three days in the kitchen for me to realize I had found my passion. From the very first moment, everything just felt right. I enjoyed every minute, every task, every challenge. In those three days, I discovered what I was born to do cooking became my calling.

After losing our house in Strand, we moved to Somerset West when I was in Grade 8. My dad had taken on a new job that came with a house, so it felt like a fresh start. I helped out with the family business for a year, but the truth was I wasn’t earning much, and my heart just wasn’t in it. Not long after, we lost that house too, and this time we had to move back to Strand not into our old home, and not even into a proper house, but into a caravan at the Strand Caravan Park. We lived there for a full year the year I turned 15.

He may not have everything he ever wanted, but what he does have is everything he dreamed of a family. Not a family that looks down on him, but one that gives him the strength to rise, to be the best version of himself. Even after losing so much of what once defined him, he found himself standing tall in Elsies River, holding on to what mattered most.

If it weren’t for his younger brother who always looked at him with pride, confidence, and belief in his success he might not have made it this far. Every step, every sacrifice, was for his family. His greatest mission has always been to bring joy back into their lives, to give his brother the opportunities he never had, and to make him proud, especially in the toughest times.

I left school early because I felt the weight of responsibility. I couldn’t bear to see my brother’s future suffer, so I stepped in to help with the payments that kept a roof over our heads. Times were hard there were days when we barely had enough to eat.

I’ll admit — I am no genius. But when it comes to putting a smile on my family’s faces, nothing in this world can stand in my way. My family made me who I am, and all I want is for them to have the life they truly deserve.

My love for the kitchen began in those very moments of lack. With the little we had, I found ways to create something meaningful, something we could enjoy together. At first, I didn’t know what my path would be I just knew I wanted to use my hands to build a better life for my family. My parents had a caravan company, and I was good with my hands. We worked long hours often through weekends and holidays. My father also had a bakery, and my mother was in catering. Watching people smile through the food they served gave me joy, but at the time, I didn’t think it was for me. I was just the waiter in the background.

That all changed when my uncle got me a holiday job at the Cullinan Hotel on 9 December 2013. I went in expecting just a short holiday job. But within that first week, I felt something shift I had found where I belonged. To my surprise, the head chef noticed it too. After only a few days, he told me he wanted me to work full-time because he saw something in me the very thing I had just discovered in myself: I belong in the kitchen.

And from that moment, my journey truly began.

To be continued… in reality.